2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup Details, and reviews

2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

The 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car, making its debut in the 2011 Porsche Carrera Cup GB Championship, is the latest edition of the best-selling racing car of all time, having been built in a production series of more than 1,400 units since 1998.

The latest Porsche 911 GT3 Cup racer is based for the first time on the 911 GT3 RS road car, with the weight of the motor sport derivative reduced significantly versus the already lightweight road car. The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is designed for racing in the many Porsche Carrera Cup Championships around the globe and the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup that supports Grands Prix, and was based previously on the 911 GT3.

As a consequence of being based on the 911 GT3 RS, this is the first Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car to feature the 44-millimetre (1.73") wider body at the rear, which provides increased space for even larger wheels and slick tyres. Wider front wheel arches also clearly show that the front wheels/tyres are likewise bigger which, combined with other evolutionary changes, has enabled the dynamic performance of the latest car to reach new heights.

Engine capacity is up by 0.2 litres over the prior GT3 Cup car, with power output rising by 30 hp more than before. Thus the rear-mounted 3.8-litre six-cylinder horizontally-opposed power unit develops 450 hp, and drives the rear wheels through a sequential six-speed manual gearbox and limited slip differential.

Emphasising the Porsche 'track to road' philosophy which has guided the company since its beginnings in 1948, the power unit featured in the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup is largely identical to the production engine in the 911 GT3 RS - and offers the same output of 450 hp and identical maximum engine speed of 8,500 rpm.

The Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car is designed by the same team based in Weissach, near Stuttgart, Germany, responsible for the iconic Porsche 911 GT3 and RS road cars. In keeping with the lightweight, race-bred credentials that are synonymous with Porsche RS models, the road car weighs 1,370 kg. As befits its single-minded motor sport purpose, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup race car tips the scales at 1,200 kg, resulting in even sharper performance on the circuit.

From the outside, the new 911 GT3 Cup clearly demonstrates its RS road car origins while at the same time maintaining the purposeful appearance of a race car. The striking daytime driving lights come straight from the current generation of the 911 and the front body panels are the same as on the 911 GT3 RS. However, the front spoiler lip is 15 millimetres (approx 0.6") lower to provide significantly more downforce on the front axle.

Downforce on the rear axle is also increased by the rear wing, that is extended in width from 1.46 to 1.70 metres (57.5 to 66.9") and now mounted higher up in a development feature reminiscent of that fitted to the even faster 911 GT3 R raced in international FIA GT3 series. The rear bumper valance with its distinctive air vent openings and LED technology rear lights, in turn, come straight from the GT3 RS road car.

The wider front wheel arches and the flared rear wheel housings provide ample space for even wider wheels. The front axle rides on three-piece light-alloy rims measuring 9.5 J x 18 (previously 9 J x 18) and running on 24/64-18 Michelin racing tyres. The width of the three-piece light-alloy rims on the rear axle have increased by one inch, and now measure 12 J x 18 with 27/68-18 tyres.

Additional Unibal joints are featured on the track control arms of the front and rear suspension to permit greater chassis adjustability, and the sword-shaped anti-roll bars fitted front and rear are now adjustable to seven different positions on both sides. Combined, this allows for an even more precise set-up of the car depending on the characteristics of the respective race track.

The cockpit of the new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup caters more than ever before for the specific needs of the race driver. An additional vent in the upper part of the front lid, for example, provides the driver with a better supply of fresh air. The controls for the Info Display are now positioned directly on the steering wheel which houses a total of six switches that control a variety of functions including the pit-lane speed limiter, windscreen wipers, and lights. In addition to fore-and-aft adjustment, the steering wheel may now also be adjusted for height, as on the 911 road car.

The new Porsche 911 GT3 Cup costs £94,600 plus VAT and deliveries to customers will begin in early 2011. Next season it will be raced not only in the Porsche Carrera Cup GB, but also in the Porsche Mobil1 Supercup on the occasion of Formula 1 races and many other Cup Championships around the world.

Source: http://www.netcarshow.com/

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2011 Dodge Journey

2011 Dodge Journey

Dodge continues to unleash new products to the market, introducing the new 2011 Dodge Journey, its mid-size crossover with "right sized" proportions, five- or seven-passenger seating, innovative storage solutions, abundant safety and security features, all-wheel-drive capability and models packaged for a variety of lifestyles.

For 2011, Dodge takes what was good and makes it better. The Dodge Journey receives a major overhaul with a completely redesigned and retuned suspension, a new V-6 engine and a gorgeous new interior. And that's not all. Dodge Journey also features the latest and greatest in vehicle connectivity and customization with the Chrysler Group's new PowerNet electrical architecture. Owners will feel like they have the world at their fingertips with the Dodge Journey's available touch-screen command center, Uconnect Touch.

From navigation to dual-zone climate controls to the ability to check fuel prices, the all-new Uconnect Touch media center makes life in the new 2011 Dodge Journey an excellent adventure for the driver and passengers. Four Uconnect Touch models are available, all featuring easy-to-use controls and class-leading technology. With its touch-screen display and user-friendly touch-key categories, connecting and controlling personal devices is simple, intuitive and customizable.

The 2011 Dodge Journey is nimble, composed and handles well in all driving and road conditions. Chrysler Group engineers improved routine ride handling by re-engineering the suspension geometry, adding new, improved premium tires and redesigning the steering for a more precise and coordinated response. Overall, customers will be treated to an energetic, fun-to-drive experience behind the wheel.

In addition, at 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2011 Dodge Journey equipped with the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine delivers a 20 percent boost in power compared with the V-6 engine it replaces. It's mated to the smooth-shifting six-speed transmission.

Drivers also will be treated to a smooth, quiet ride. Engineers reduced noise, vibration and harshness by installing new, premium sound-deadening treatments and insulation throughout the vehicle.

But perhaps the most rewarding surprise is Dodge Journey's new interior. Customers will step into world-class levels of craftsmanship and comfort. A beautifully crafted one-piece instrument panel sets the tone. A new, larger cluster with standard electronic vehicle information center (EVIC) is positioned in the center of the new gauges. It's a full-color display backlit in Dodge red lights, giving it a soft glow unlike any in the segment. New, integrated center stack bezels are less angular and more sculpted, and designers softened the radius to make more room for the driver's knees. The heating and cooling outlets are also redesigned to make them better looking and better functioning.

The center console gets a lot of extra cushion on the tilt-and-slide armrest. Lift the lid, and there's a larger center storage bin with a 12-volt outlet and USB port where owners can hook up their MP3/iPod charging connections and hide them away.

The design team also worked to make the Dodge Journey's interior more comfortable. They moved the shifter and cupholders, making it easier for drivers and passengers to get their coffee and soda without having to lean over and under the dash. There's also a larger front storage bin with side nets. The new multi-functioning three-spoke Dodge brand steering wheel with integrated controls and a wider, longer, soft-touch armrest transform the driver's seat into a cockpit-like experience. Comfortable new seats might just make drivers want to take the long way home to get a little extra seat time. The Dodge Journey offers six new interior color and trims to complete the makeover.

On the outside, Dodge Journey maintains its sculpted, clean, aggressive lines, and adds a new front fascia that sports the signature Dodge Brand "split crosshair" honeycomb grille. The fog lamp bezels are bigger and bolder, and Journey models with the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 get a new, unique more aggressive lower fascia with the honeycomb texture in the grille (late availability). New 19-inch wheels, a new, less angular rear fascia and "ring of fire" LED taillamps wrap it up from front to back.

Dodge Journey also is loaded with an abundance of safety and security features, including: standard advanced multi-stage front passenger air bags, active head restraints, electronic stability control (ESC) with all-speed traction control, electronic roll mitigation and brake assist, new driver-side knee blocker air bag, supplemental side-curtain air bags covering all three rows, supplemental front-seat-mounted side air bags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, LATCH child seat anchor system and trailer sway control.

The Dodge Journey is built in at Chrysler Group LLC's Toluca Assembly Plant in Toluca, Mexico. It will arrive in U.S. dealerships in fourth quarter of 2010.

Source: http://www.netcarshow.com/

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2011 Porsche’s 911 GT2 RS limited stock already gone

2011 Porsche’s 911 GT2 RS

According to the German manufacturer, the limited edition of 911 GT2 RS is already over, all the 500 units were ordered since the model was presented at the Moscow Auto Show, at the end of August. Tested on the Nurburgring circuit, the limited edition Porsche 911 GT2 RS managed to get a nice time of 7 minutes and 18 seconds thanks to the 3.6-liter six-cylinder twin-turbocharged engine we find under the bonnet.

The RS version of the 911 GT2 is able to provide extra 90 horsepower compared to the standard 911 GT2, the limited edition being able to develop 620 horsepower and to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.5 seconds.

The Porsche 911 GT2 RS comes with a matte carbon fiber bodywork, new 19-inch alloy wheels

, Porsche Adaptive Suspension Management and Alcantara trim at the interior. The model’s price tag starts from around $250.000, but this is not that important anymore as all the units were already sold by the German manufacturer.

Source: http://www.automotorblog.com/

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Audi will show TTS Pikes Peak and 710-hp R8 Spyder

Audi TTS Pikes Peak

Audi of America announced that it will attend the SEMA Show for the first time ever next month (Nov. 2-5).

“We’re thrilled to be a part of the SEMA experience, and look forward to turning heads with our vehicles, demonstrations, and a sophisticated lineup of After Sales and electronics products that enhance connectivity and entertainment,” said David Tait, Audi’s lead After Sales executive and spokesman on the SEMA project. “We think Audi owners will be delighted to learn about our new technologies that will enable them, in cooperation with Audi dealers, to personalize their Audi vehicles in exciting and interesting new ways. Our show cars will represent the pinnacle of what owners can do with an Audi, and unleash a variety of opportunities for our vendors, as well.”

Audi will show the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak and the Audi R8 Customer Spyder by STaSIS Engineering. The R8 Custom Spyder will be powered by a supercharged 5.2 FSI V10 making 710-hp.

Also at the GGI European Tuning booth, the North American importer of ABT Sportsline, will show ABT Audi R8 GT R. The model is powered by a tuned 5.2 FSI V10 making 620-hp, which allows it to go from 0-62 mph in 3.2 seconds and 0-124 mph in 9.9 seconds. Top speed comes in at 202 mph.

Make the jump for the press release.

Audi of America to Show at SEMA for First Time

• New Audi After Sales products and technology to be unveiled
• Audi Autonomous TTS Pikes Peak demo planned for Nov. 2
• Audi vehicles, plus R8 Custom Spyder by STaSIS Engineering to be shown

Audi of America today announced that it will exhibit — for the first time ever — at the SEMA Show, the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world, Nov. 2-5, 2010, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In addition to After Sales products, the six-vehicle display will feature the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak, and the Audi R8 Custom Spyder by STaSIS Engineering equipped with a supercharged engine (5.2 FSIV10 – 710 HP).

A demonstration of the Autonomous Audi TTS Pikes Peak is planned for Tues., Nov. 2, at 3:40 pm, just outside the North Hall. (More details to follow.)

The exhibit will also be equipped with special, extreme sports Audi gear.

“Let’s just say we’ll have a few distinctive, concept items on the stand that definitely won’t disappoint the unique SEMA audience,” he added.

A full complement of Audi of America / After Sales news and information will be distributed during the show, and posted on www.audiusanews.com

In addition to a record vehicles sales year, Audi After Sales has expanded its portfolio of Genuine Audi Accessories offerings leading to an all-time record sales year in both its parts and accessory business within the U.S.

September 2010 sales of Audi cars and SUVs marked the sixth record month of 2010, and also represented the best third quarter ever in Audi U.S. sales history. The September results keep the German luxury automaker on track to set a vehicle sales record in the U.S. by year end. The existing annual sales record for Audi in the U.S. is 93,506 vehicles sold in 2007.

The Audi of America SEMA exhibit will be located in the Mobile Electronics Area of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s North Hall, Booth 11245.

Source: http://www.egmcartech.com/2010/

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2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

2012 Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale

The new Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale will be the fastest, lightest and most powerful car in the Maserati range when it goes on sale in the first quarter of 2011.

Inspired by the Trofeo GranTurismo MC and the race-winning GT4 motorsport models, the two-seater Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale that will debut at the 2010 Paris Auto Show will feature razor-sharp handling and will break the 300km/h barrier.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale responds to demands for a GranTurismo which can balance on-road driving needs with race-driving desires, incorporating the handling and aerodynamic lessons from Maserati's three racing programs.

The Maserati GranTurismo MC Stradale produces more aerodynamic down force without producing more aerodynamic drag, it produces more power - 336kw, 450 hp - without using more fuel and it is more agile without sacrificing the GranTurismo S's highly praised ride quality.

Source: http://www.netcarshow.com/maserati/

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2010 Opel Corsa OPC

2010 Opel Corsa OPC

The Opel Corsa OPC is a statement of pure driving fun. Since its launch in 2007, 13,000 units have already been sold. Eye-catching styling is backed by breathtaking performance from a 141 kW/192 hp turbo engine and a Sport Chassis set-up honed on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

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2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Details, and Info

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class

The Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class created a new vehicle category in 2003 by combining the elegance and expressiveness of a coupé with the comfort and functionality of a sedan. The Mercedes CLS delighted the public, astounded the competition and created a new style icon: for years the CLS has endured as the only four-door coupé in its class, and since October 2004 it has been the car of choice for around 170,000 buyers worldwide. "Customers all over the world benefited from our bold move to launch a completely new vehicle concept onto the market", explains a delighted Dr. Joachim Schmidt, member of the board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Sales & Marketing. "And with its exciting design, the new edition of the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class also benefits from the fact that we are a whole generation ahead of the competition with our four-door Coupé."

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2012 Citroen DS4 Details, and Info

2012 Citroen DS4

Citroën has released first details for the new Citroën DS4, a unique and attractive blend of creativity, dynamism, exclusivity and versatility. DS4 is the second model in Citroën's distinctively-styled DS line.

Citroën DS4 brings an alluring mixture of premium design codes and a bold approach to automotive styling, with an emphasis on driving pleasure and advanced vehicle architecture. DS4 is a model with a multitude of talents, effortlessly responding to a broad range of owner needs, while enhancing the appeal and vitality of the motoring experience.

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2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Coupe and Roadster

2011 Aston Martin V8 Vantage N420 Coupe

Aston Martin has made a habit of competing in the 24-hour race at Germany’s famed Nürburgring, and of peddling special-edition street cars commemorating its doing so. The company’s big news pertaining to the race this year was the participation of a Rapide sedan, which finished second in its class and 38th overall. The special edition to come out of this year’s race is not based on the Rapide, however, but the V-8 Vantage.

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2011 Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI Quattro - Official Details and Info

2011 Audi R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI Quattro

From the Something-We-Figured-Was-Coming-But-Are-Thrilled-To-See-Anyway Department comes Audi’s announcement of the R8 Spyder 4.2 FSI Quattro. It’s basically the V-8 version of the V-10–engined R8 Spyder 5.2 FSI Quattro, which itself is scheduled to appear in U.S. showrooms starting this September.

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2011 Aston Martin DB9 Coupe and DB9 Volante Details, and Info

2011 Aston Martin DB9 Coupe and DB9 Volante

Aston Martin’s long-awaited update to the DB9, a car many consider to be as close to aesthetic perfection as any coupe or convertible can get these days, brings almost no changes to the exterior. How can we complain about that without sounding bratty? Although timelessness counts for a lot in this business, so does freshness.

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2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon - Official Details and Info

2011 Acura TSX Sport Wagon

As we’ve watched the crossover genre take on a bajillion different permutations of late, it’s refreshing to see a good, old-fashioned station wagon like the new Acura TSX Sport Wagon appear. This is especially true at a time when even the most established wagon-makers continue to withhold or withdraw their best five-doors from the U.S. market.

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2011 Ford Focus RS500

2011 Ford Focus RS500

Ford’s parade of fast European Focuses during the last decade has had us both admiring the Blue Oval for building them and admonishing the company for playing keep-away with its home market. We’ve been assured that the days of keeping its hottest hatches out of our hands will be over once the new world-market Focus comes online starting in 2011 as a 2012 model—but Ford had to go and twist the knife one more time. Witness the 2011 Focus RS500, the fiercest Focus ever and what the company considers to be the successor to the legendary Ford Sierra RS500 racer of the 1980s.

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2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Cruze RS - Official Details, Review and Info

2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Cruze RS

By the time New York auto show rolls around at the end of the show season, most of the big debuts have been announced. But stop the presses, boys, because Chevy is storming the Big Apple with nothing less than two brand-new variations of its upcoming Cruze compact sedan—the Cruze Eco and the Cruze RS appearance package. Yes, two more variations on the compact sedan that Chevy has been promising us for about two years now but has yet to sell on American shores. These two, however, promise to be among the most interesting to buyers.

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2011 Subaru Impreza WRX - Details, review and info

2011 Subaru Impreza WRX

“Wider is better.” It’s best remembered as a tagline used over the decades by Pontiac, but Subaru might want to see if GM’s willing to give up the trademark. That’s because the Japanese company plans to debut a revised 2011 Impreza WRX with an increased track and wide-body sheetmetal lifted straight from its STI big brother. The official unveil will happen at the New York auto show.

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2010 Maserati GranCabrio details, review, and info

2010 Maserati GranCabrio

If there’s a slowdown in the auto market and a shift in the public’s focus from mph to mpg, it won’t be reflected at the Frankfurt auto show. To a roster of debuts already boasting a pair of poster-worthy Porsche debutantes and a duo of 450-plus-hp BMW hybrids, Maserati is adding its newest model, the 433-hp 2010 GranCabrio.

Based on the scintillating GranTurismo, the four-seat GranCabrio thankfully foregoes the trend of folding hardtops that has ensnared even Ferrari. The cloth top will help keep the inevitable weight gain associated with creating a convertible from a coupe under control, and its easier packaging preserves the Italian coupe’s mouth-watering shape.

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2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder detail, review, and info

2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder

We’ve long had big-time love for Porsche’s delicious Boxster, a car that—like its vaunted older brother, the mighty 911—seems only to get better every year. And so we celebrate Porsche’s addition of a third, range-topping model to the Boxster family: the 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder.

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2011 Chevrolet Corvette GTR by Specter Werkes/Sports

2011 Chevrolet Corvette GTR

These days, you just can’t build a fast car without carbon fiber; apparently, the guys at Specter Werkes/Sports know that, and they’ve liberally applied the stuff to their Corvette GTR. Chief among the carbon-y items on this wicked Corvette Z06–based machine are the sweet HRE CF40 carbon-fiber wheels, which are wrapped with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires. Weighing in at only 22 pounds each, the wheels reduce unsprung weight, meaning this beast will have even less trouble breakin’ ’em loose and ripping off one massive burnout.

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2010 BMW M3 GTS

2010 BMW M3 GTS

We've seen a lot of fast and fascinating cars from BMW's M division lately, including stuff like the X5 M and X6 M, possibly the baddest SUVs on the market right now. While we've had a lot of fun with those behemoths, we still can’t help but recall that the M division is supposed to be about lightweight performance powerhouses. But even the quintessential M car, the M3, has become somewhat portly in its current iteration, particularly the M3 convertible, which has a retractable hardtop that is as elaborate as it is heavy.

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2011 Dodge Challenger Mopar

2011 Dodge Challenger Mopar

For the first time in its history, Chrysler Group LLC will launch a special-edition Mopar® version of one of its vehicles. The Mopar '10, a 2010 Dodge Challenger Mopar, arrives in Dodge dealerships next month.

"Our 2010 Dodge Challenger Mopar is a collaboration of two iconic brands with tremendous heritage," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC. "Dodge put the heart into this Challenger and Mopar added the soul. The result is a unique, special-edition car that only we can offer."

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